HOODSPITH, S/L Robert Randolph Brereton (C1595) - Mention in Despatches - No.62 Base - Award effective 1 January 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 337/45 dated 23 February 1945. Born 24 February 1913 in Carnduff, Saskatchewan. Educated at Langley Prairie (1919-1927), North Burnaby High School (1927-1928), Duffus Business College (1928-1929 and Sprott Shaw Wireless School (1929). Enlisted as Wireless Mechanic, 27 August 1935 and posted to Technical Training School, Camp Borden. To Wireless School, Trenton, 3 February 1936. Promoted AC1, 1 June 1936. To School of Army Cooperation, Trenton, 5 June 1936. To No.6 (TB) Squadron, 7 January 1937. Promoted LAC, 27 February 1937. To Flying Training School, Trenton, 20 July 1937. Promoted Corporal, 3 September 1937. Qualified for RCAF flying badge, 20 May 1938 when promoted Sergeant. To Air Navigation and Seaplane School, Trenton, 6 June 1938. Posted from Trenton to No.6 (TB) Squadron, 18 January 1939. Classified as pilot, 1 July 1939. Commissioned in Vancouver, 15 November 1939 in General List Branch. To No.118 (Fighter) Squadron, Rockcliffe, 14 May 1941. To No.116 (BR) Squadron, Dartmouth, 7 July 1941. As Squadron Signal Officer for No.116 Squadron, he participated in a notable survey of Labrador and Hudson Bay coast in 1941 (see entry for N.E. Small for details). Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 March 1941. Promoted Squadron Leader, 15 January 1942. To Station Gander, 19 January 1942. To Station Dartmouth, 4 October 1942. To “Y” Depot, 15 November 1942. To RAF overseas, 10 December 1942; disembarked in Britain, 18 December 1942. To No.39 Wing, 30 December 1942. To No.6 Group, 6 January 1944. To No.62 Base, 6 March 1944. To RCAF Overseas Headquarters, 19 April 1945. Repatriated with No.405 Squadron, 18 June 1945. Transferred to telecommunications branch on return to Canada in 1945. To Eastern Air Command Headquarters, 30 June 1945. Promoted Wing Commander, 1 September 1945. To AFHQ, 1 December 1945. Reverted to Squadron Leader, 1 October 1946. To RCAF Staff College, 12 October 1947. Promoted Wing Commander again, 1 January 1948. Subsequently back to AFHQ, 7 July 1948 (Directorate of Telecommunications); to Air Defence Group (Command) Headquarters, 1 November 1949; to AFHQ, 20 November 1951 for service with SHAPE, Paris; to No.1 Air Division Headquarters, 1 August 1953; to Station Clinton, 2 September 1954. Retired with rank of Wing Commander, 15 October 1959. A news clipping from the Vancouver Province dated 2 January 1946 described him as "chief Radar officer for the RCAF". Died in Ottawa, 6 August 1992. RCAF photo PL-31974 (ex UK-14203 dated 24 August 1944) is captioned as follows: “Top Signals men of RCAF Bomber Group on the problems of this highly important branch which guides thousands of Canadians on their night and day sorties against Nazi targets. Shown at the Canadian Group’s headquarters ‘somewhere in England’ from left to right are - FRONT ROW, S/L E.M. Hook (Nottingham, England), S/L K.B. Carters (Endby Bedale, Yorkshire), W/C J.P. Melvin (Bomber Command HQ Staff), W/C N.B. Eaton (Oakville, Ontario), S/L R.B.B. Hoodspith (Belleville, Ontario), S/L D.G. Miller (Iroquois, Ontario), S/L L.D.H. Izzard. DFM (Kirkby Overblow, Yorkshire); SECOND ROW, F/L H.H, Woodhead (Winnipeg), S/L E.P. Seon (Toronto), F/L C.D. Arstad (Malton, Ontario), S/L R.T. Martin (York, England), THIRD ROW, S/L A.L. Musselman (Bomber Command staff), F/L B.F. Nilson (Kenora, Ontario), F/L E.S. Brown (Toronto), FOURTH ROW, F/L S.F. Harfield (Vancouver), F/L W.A. Fuller (Victoria), F/L Jim Colley (Montreal), F/L W.E. Duncan (Ottawa), F/L Harry Hitchen (Belleville), F/L C.O. Shank (Markham, Ontario), F/L B.H. Beck (Toronto), F/L J.R. Lacey (Liverpool, England), F/L O.H. Clearwater (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) and F/L N.S. Craig (Vancouver). No citation in AFRO. // HOODSPITH, S/L Robert Randolph Brerton (C1595) - Mention in Despatches - No.62 Base - Award effective 14 June 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1395/45 dated 31 August 1945. AFRO gives unit only as "Overseas"; DHist file 181.009 D.1725 (PAC RG.24 Vol 20607) has list of MiDs this date with unit. No citation. DHist file 181.009 D.1722 (PAC RG.24 Vol 20606) has a recommendation dated 3 February 1945 for an OBE; it is almost identical to recommendation of May 1945 for the same award which ultimately brought him an MBE and may have resulted in the MiD on this occasion. // HOODSPITH, S/L Robert Brereton (C1595) - Member, Order of the British Empire - No.62 Base - Award effective 1 January 1946 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 155/46 dated 15 February 1946. No citation in AFRO or biographical file; DHist file 181.009 D.1725 (PAC RG.24 Vol.20607) has recommendation for OBE dated 21 May 1945 when he was Base Signals Officer. // Squadron Leader Hoodspith has had a long and faithful service in the RCAF, first in the ranks until his commissioning on November 15th, 1939. Qualifying as a pilot, this officer specialized in Signals and served in turn at the following units: No.6 (TB) Squadron; School of Army Co-op; RCAF Uplands as Flying Instructor; Instructor in Army Co-op; 118 Squadron and 116 (BR) Squadron, Flying and Signals Duties; RCAF Stations Gander and Dartmouth, Signals Duties. // He was posted overseas in January 1943 and served as Signals Officer with 39 Wing until January 1944, when he was posted to No.6 (RCAF) Group. He was appointed No.62 Base Signals Officer, January 15th, 1944, and is still serving in that capacity. // This officer has always shown the greatest zeal and energy and technical ability. As Base Signals Officer he has been instrumental in bringing the Signals organization of this Base to a high degree of efficiency. He has organized and perfected the Base Signals Major Servicing Section which is a model for all those in Bomber Command. A few months ago, Bomber Command Signals Bulletin paid glowing tribute to the Signals Major Servicing Section of this Base. // In recognition of Squadron Leader Hoodspith's long and efficient service I have the honour to recommend him for the award of the Order of the British Empire. // Notes: As of 28 January 1940 he had flown the following types in training - Fleet, land (93.10). Fleet, sea (14.40), Tiger Moth (34.25), Fairchild 51 (1.15) and Fairchild 71 (5.05). On service duties and patrols he had flown Vedette (44.25) and Shark (158.25). // The summary of his course at the Air Navigation and Seaplane School (1 June to 31 October 1938) reflects prewar training. He was on Vedettes (7.30 dual, 36.55 solo as pilot, 18.40 as navigator and 33.10 as crew); also on Fleet (1.00 dual, 13.40 solo, 2.30 as crew), Fairchild 71 (1.30 dual, 2.35 solo, 1.35 as navigator, 3.25 as crew) and Norseman (6.50 as navigator, 21.00 as crew). Courses in Photography (78 percent), Magnetism and Compasses (50 percent), Meteorology and Tides (53 percent), Maps, Charts and Instruments (66 percent), Sun Position Lines (50 percent on supplementals). Dead Reckoning Navigation (75 percent on supplemental) and Signals (82 percent). Placed 13th in a class of 14 - described as a “first class Wireless Operator.” S/L Mawdesley wrote (10 November 1939), “An intelligent and ambitious NCO with ability to handle a seaplane safely under normal weather conditions. He is thoroughly proficient in map reading, but requires more experience in Dead Reckoning Navigation. The written examinations fell below the standard expected , and the results on Sun Position Lines and Dead Recking Navigation necessitated ten additional days’ intensive instruction and supplementary examinations. This NCO is strongly recommended to avail himself of any opportunities which may occur of acquiring further practical and theoretical knowledge of Air Navigation. If he is to be employed in the NWT, carrying astronomical equipment he should be given refresher work before leaving,” // Assessment, 6 January 1944 by G/C D.M. Smith on posting from No.39 Wing. He has flown 980 hours (30.30 in previous six months). “This officer has a cheerful and spontaneous personalty. He knows and understood all the men under him. He is enthusiastic over his duties and is always thinking of new ideas to improve signals communications, He is inclined to be argumentative at times when an error has [been] accused rather than admit an error.” // Assessment, 27 May 1945, by Air Commodore J.L. Hurley, No.62 Base. “Squadron Leader Hoodspith is well above average in zeal, initiative and ability. As Base Signals Officer he has brought his Section to a high degree of efficiency. He is well qualified and deserving promotion to higher rank.” // Overseas he had many courses and attachments. These included No.7 Radio School, 15 April to 6 May 1944 (Radar course, GEE Mark 8 and IFF), No.6 Group Radar School, Dalton, 2-16 August 1944 (radar, H2S), No.100 Group, 28 January to 18 February 1945 (radar counter-measures operations), No.8 Pathfinder Group, 2-16 April 1945 (Pathfinder Operations and Ground School, Warboys).